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New Immigration Scams Target Undocumented Youths

Undocumented youths are being targeted by scams, claiming to put them on a priority list for application approval of deportation reprieve, reports the Huffington Post. The reprieve, announced by President Obama in June, will be awarded through application. Application materials will not be released until August 15.

But that hasn't stopped the scams. Across the nation, tax preparation services, lawyers, insurange agents and more have advertised action specials, lists and programs. Most are outright scams.

"Every time there is an announcement or even talk about immigration in Congress, you always have those entrepreneurial, but unfortunately unscrupulous people who come along and make these ‘offers,’ said Clarissa Martínez De Castro, director of immigration and national campaigns at the National Council of La Raza, a Washington-based civil rights organization.

The Citizenship and Immigration Service, after announcing some details of the deferred action process, also included a warning about scams: "There is no expedited processing for deferred action. Dishonest practitioners may promise to provide you with faster services if you pay them a fee. These people are trying to scam you and take your money."

Some application assistance programs are popping up which are not scams, but rather workshops on the program and application materials. These workshops, however, carry no weight and will not expedite the process.

What do you think of these scams? Should Obama or the administration make more of an effort to protect undocumented youths? Share in the comments!